Electrical connector.



C. L. SHEPPY.

v ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR. APPLICATION FILED APR.23. I9I3.'

i, narrar ration. j

CHARLES L. SHEPPY, F BUFFALO, YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE PIERCE-ARROW MOTOR CAR COMPANY, 0F BUFFALO, NEW'YORK.

` ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept'. Ml, 1915..

nppiilationeiediipriiaa1913. seriaiirmcassz.

To all whom t may concern: A

Be it known that I, CHARLES L. SHEPPY, a citizen ofthe UnitedStates, residing at Bufalo, in thepcounty of Erieand State of- New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in AElectrical Connectors, Vof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to connectors or contact devices for detachably connecting electrical conductors, and more especially to connectors -suitable for use on automobiles for detachably connecting the flexible conductor of an electrictail lamp, or other lamp, to a conductor of the electric lighting system on ,the automobile. v

.The objects of the invention are to produce a practicaland desirable connector of simple and compact construction `and neat appearance which will insure a reliable electrical connection of the conductors and which is adjustable vso. as to -allow the conductors to be. arranged to extend in one or another direction from the connector without being bent or twisted.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a front elevation of a connector embodying the invention, and a portion of the support therefor. Fig. 2 is a plan View, partly in section, thereof. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section thereof. Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the connector in line 4 4, Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of one of the connector' shells showing the position of the contact piece when the conductor plug is removed.

Like reference characters refer to. like parts in the several figures.

A and B represent two hollow shells or cup-shaped bodies of some suitable hard in- Sula-ting material, such, forv instance, as vulcanite, which are open at one end and are oppositely arranged with the open lends thereof abutting or facing each-other so as to form a casing which isclosed at its opposite ends.d lThese shells are preferably of like sizeand shape so as .to be interchangeable. One shell A extends loosely through a circular opening c in 'a support C, which may be one of the walls of an automobile body, andthe two. shells are secured on the support C-and held inpl'a'ce end to end by a fastening plate 'or block D which is secured tends. 'Ihe open inner ends of the shells are provided with marginal flanges or lips e which are confined-between the support C and the securing plate D in a counterbored or enlarged portion of the'opening d of the en of the flangesl e is such as to hold the shells 65 'firmly in place end to end and prevent any looseness or play between the same and yet permit either shell tobe turned axially to any desired position. The' shells `are retained by friction in any position to which they maybe adjusted.

F F represent contact pieces located the opposite closed end portions ofthe shells A and B. A coil spring G inclosed in the shells between the contactpieces F-F tends to force the latter away from each other against the .closed ends of the shells. The

`contact pieces F F shown land the shells t Aland B are provided with transverse holes g and it, respectively, into which contact plugs H H secured to the ends of electric conductors I, I are adapted to be inserted. Any suitable means may be employed for preventing the .contact pieces F F from turning in the shells so as to throw the holes y in the contact pieces out of line with thosev in the shells and thus prevent the ready insertion ofthe plugs. For this purpose thel contact pieces are provided with side projections f, Fig. "4L, which extend into longi- .90

tudinal grooves in the wall of the shells at opposite sides thereof. In the normal lposition of the contact pieces F F, that'is before' the plugs I, I. are/inserted, the

spring holds the Contact pieces Ain the extreme outer ends of the shells A, B with the holes g of the contact piecesislightly `out of 'of a diameter to substantially fill the holes 100' ,t7 and handare provided with tapering or pointed endsso that when they are inserted inthe holes they wedge the contact pieces F, F toward each otherv and compress the spring G. lThe spring, therefore, presses 105.

the contact pieces firmly against the inner or adjacent faces of`the plugs and thus insures an eiiicient electrical contact between the contact pieces andthe plugs. The fric-5 tion between the contact-pieces and the 110' plugs H, H also holds the plugs firmly in place in the connector. The contact pieces F, F are preferably provided with transverse holes, as shown, and these holes and the holes it in the shells are preferably made to substantially fit the plugs, but this construction is not absolutely essential, since any formation of the parts, whereby the insertion of the plugs will force the contact ingly simple construction, involvingonly a very few parts which can be readily made and assembled. Since only one shell B and the attaching plate D are exposed to view at the outside of the -support C, and these parts are small and of neat appearance the connector is desirable for use in exposed positions on high grade automobiles. The adjustability of the shells enables them to be turned to y whatever positions are Inost convenient for the attachment of the conductors I, I. Manifestly the'ends of the conductors themselves could be inserted in the shellsfin contact with the contact pieces, in so far as the construction of the connector -is concerned. This connector is especially suited for detachably connecting the flexible conductor for the tail lamp of .an automobile with a conductor of a single wire lighting system located inside of.. the body or frame. of the e car, but it is not restricted to this use.

I claim as my invention:

I 1. In an electrical connector, the combination with conductors, of two shells of insulating material having-open ends facing each other, outwardly projecting flanges on said shells, securin'g'means loosely embracing said flanges and-*permitting said shells to turn relatively Ato each other, `said shells having holes for the insertion of said conductors, and an electrical connection in said shells between said conductors which connects said conductors in all positions of said shells.

2. In an electrical connector, the combination with conductors, of two shells of insulating material having open ends facing each other, outwardly projecting flanges on said shells, securing means loosely embracing said flanges and permitting said shells to turn relatively to each other, said shells having holes for the insertion of said conductors, anda spring in said shells connecting said conductors in all positions of said shells..

3. In an electrical connector, the combination with conductors, of two shells of insulating material having open ends facing each other, outwardly projecting flanges on said shells, securingmeans loosely embracing said flanges to permit the adjustment of one shell relatively to the other, said shells having holes for the insertion of said conductors, movable contact pieces in said shells adapted to be engaged by said conductors when inserted through said holes in the shells, and a spring in said shells which engages said contact pieces for pressing the same into engagement with the .conductors and which forms an electrical connection between said contact pieces.

4. The combination of two shells'of insulating material having open ends facing each other, a supporthaving an openingfor the passage of one of said shells,- a securing plate attached to said support and having anopening for the passage of said other shell, the open ends of said shells being secured between said securing plate and said support, said shells having holes for the insertion ofjcon'ductors, contact pieces in said shells, and a spring in said shells for pressing said contact-'pieces against said conductors, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand, this 18th day of April, 1913. CHARLES L. sHEPPY.

Witnesses: I i` J Y i W. J. CREAMER, 'i

WILLIAM H. LooKE. 

